James Abundis, an 18-year-old senior at Christopher High School, is this week’s “Student of the Week.”
What inspires you?
It may seem quite cliché, but it seems I have always been inspired by a lingering curiosity to discover how things work in the artificial and natural world. It comes down to just a simple desire to know more because it seems we grow up in only world as we know, in an ignorant state of bliss until we reach outside of our realm into the unfamiliar.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
Well previously my favorite subject in school had been engineering and when I transferred into Christopher High School I noticed this wasn’t an available course, so I made an engineering club to give other students exposure to the engineering field. I find engineering to be intriguing because of its presence in human life and its ability to aid humanity in fixing every day problems.
If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I would revamp the federal funding to NASA and revitalize space exploration as a top priority around the world. It shouldn’t take a Cold War and the death of a president for us as a nation to explore the outreaches of space to further advance our knowledge.
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
I would definitely go to New Zealand because they have “Lord of the Rings” currency and that’s enough for me.
Name one big challenge in your life right now:
I moved here to live with my Aunt and left my parents back home in Boston. I won’t be able to see them until graduation, but I guess like any other kid I really miss them.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would probably consist of being an electronics hardware engineer and an app programmer.
What are your three favorite things?
“Star Wars,” food, and really lame puns.
Favorite Book:
“Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell.
What do you want to do after high school?
Go to college and take it step by step from there. Nothing is written in stone as of now, and it’s good to keep an open mind for the future.
Something that makes you smile:
American politics.
Top three most played songs on your iPod or iTunes:
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Take On Me” by Aha, and “I Am The Walrus” by the Beatles.
